'''Gaya''' is in a city in [[Bihar]]. It is used as a transit point for pilgrims traveling to nearby [[Bodhgaya]].

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: ''For the mountain in Korea, see [[Gayasan Mountain National Park]].''

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'''Gaya''' is a major pilgrimage city in [[Bihar]] for Hindus and Buddhists. It is visited for doing Pind Dan (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased) and for visiting [[Bodhgaya]] and Vishnupad temple.

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==Understand==

==Understand==

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"Gaya is a picturesque city. Rocky hills most of them crowned by temples, surround it, and even jut into the town… It is a place of great sanctity and a very important place of pilgrimage, the central point of which is the Vishnupad temple, which enshrines the footprints of Vishnu. The temple was built in the 18th century by the Maratha princess Ahliyabai.The hills around the city are also places of sanctity. The highest is that of Brahmayoni, which rises precipitately to a height of 450 feet above the plain. Six miles south of Gaya is the great temple of Bodh Gaya, one of the holiest places in the world, and the most sacred of all places to the Buddhists.These (Barabar) hills are 6-8 miles east of Bela railway station, the second railway station on the way to Patna… This is the site of the ancient Silabhadra monaster. On a low ridge of granite in the southern corner of the valley are the famous Barabar caves. The reader of E.M.Forster’s book ''A Passage to India'' will recall the incident of which the scene is one of these caves." - Sir John Houlton in ''Bihar the Heart of India''

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Gaya is a ritual place and it is famous for Pind daan. People from all over the world comes here to perform pind daan puja for their passed ancestors. This pinddaan puja brings peace to the soul. Most of the people come here in the months of monsoon (September - October) for the 'Pitrapaksh Tarpan' (Prayers offered for the dead). The pilgrims take a dip in the seasonal holy river 'Phalgu' during this season. There is gathering of people for 2 weeks here for Pitripaksha Mela and perform the rituals of pind daan for their departed family members. These rituals brings peace to the wandering souls. Devotees not only from india but arond the world come here and participate in huge numbers.

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"Gaya is a picturesque city surrounded by temple-crowned hills… It is a place of great sanctity and a very important place for pilgrimage, the central point of which is the Vishnupad temple that enshrines a footprint of Vishnu. The temple was built in the 18th century by the Maratha princess Ahliyabai.The hills around the city are also places of sanctity. The highest is that of Brahmayoni, which rises precipitately to a height of 450 feet above the plain. Six miles south of Gaya is the great temple of Bodh Gaya, one of the holiest places in the world, and the most sacred of all places to the Buddhists.These (Barabar) hills are 6-8 miles east of Bela railway station, the second railway station on the way to Patna… This is the site of the ancient Silabhadra monaster. On a low ridge of granite in the southern corner of the valley are the famous Barabar caves. The reader of E.M.Forster’s book ''A Passage to India'' will recall the incident of which the scene is one of these caves." - Sir John Houlton in ''Bihar the Heart of India''

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Now a days it is an ordinary district headquarter of India and bears a polluted, not so clean and dusty look though it still draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims as a pilgrimage and place for a compulsory ''pindadaan''( funeral offerings to the deceased) for Hindus.Vishnupad Temple is the main draw which was constructed by famous Maratha princess Ahalyabayi of Holkar Dynasty of Gwalior in seventeenth century in place of old dilapidated temple.

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Now a days it is an ordinary district headquarter of India and bears a polluted, not so clean and dusty look though it still draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims as a pilgrimage and place for a compulsory ''pindadaan''( funeral offerings to the deceased) for Hindus. Vishnupad Temple is the main draw which was constructed by famous Maratha princess Ahalyabayi of Holkar Dynasty of Gwalior in seventeenth century in place of old dilapidated temple.

==Get in==

==Get in==

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Gaya is well connected thru Air, Rail and Road. Bodhgaya is the nearest Airport which offers International flight for Bodhist Country like Thailand, Mayanmar, Japan. 2nd Option is Patna which is 100 KM and well connected by Rail and Road service.

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Gaya is well connected through air, rail and road. Bodhgaya is the nearest airport, which offers International flight for Buddhist countries like Thailand, Mayanmar, Japan. The second option is Patna, which is 125 km away and well connected by rail and road service. There are lots of train dirctly from Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

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Also there are lots of train dirctly from Delhi, Kolcutta and Mumbai.

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==Get around==

==Get around==

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Vishnupad is the famous temple, which had got the impression of Lord Vishnu's Foot. Lots of person visiting every year to offer SHRAD for their died family member (PURVAJ).

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There are other so many small temples to see.

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Other main attraction near by is Bodhgaya, which is Famaous for Budha Temple. Here Budha has got the Power of Knowledge.

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You can easily visit Gaya by car. There are many car rental companies available.

Apart from Vishnupad Temple, one can visit Pretshila,Brahmayoni and other hillocks which offers nice bird's eye view of the plains.

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* <see name="Vishnupad Temple" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">build in 18th century....there is a foot print of lord vishu in this temple.In this temple at outside the inner gate there is a place drop of water coming from the wall and believed by the people that if water get on people there wish will become true</see>

There are a lot of budget hotels in Gaya situated in the station road. Also there are a few good hotels in the city namely Hotel Sidharata International, Ajatsatru, Heritage Inn, etc.There are plenty of good hotels in Bodhgaya, the best of all is The Royal Residency which is a bit expensive.

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===Budget===

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There are a lot of budget hotels in Gaya situated in the station road.

* '''Bodhgaya''' &mdash; the main attraction in the area is the Buddha Temple in Bodhgaya, here Buddha acquired the Power of Knowledge. Buses are common from Gaya to Bodh Gaya during peak season. Auto rickshaws cost about Rs 200 and an airconditioned Taxi costs Rs 300-350.

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{{isIn|Bihar}}

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* Kakolat Falls

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* Nalanda

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* Pawapuri

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* Rajgir

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* Barabar Caves

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* Bramhjauni hill

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[[pl:Gaja]]

Revision as of 12:01, 17 January 2013

Gaya is a major pilgrimage city in Bihar for Hindus and Buddhists. It is visited for doing Pind Dan (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased) and for visiting Bodhgaya and Vishnupad temple.

Contents

Understand

Gaya is a ritual place and it is famous for Pind daan. People from all over the world comes here to perform pind daan puja for their passed ancestors. This pinddaan puja brings peace to the soul. Most of the people come here in the months of monsoon (September - October) for the 'Pitrapaksh Tarpan' (Prayers offered for the dead). The pilgrims take a dip in the seasonal holy river 'Phalgu' during this season. There is gathering of people for 2 weeks here for Pitripaksha Mela and perform the rituals of pind daan for their departed family members. These rituals brings peace to the wandering souls. Devotees not only from india but arond the world come here and participate in huge numbers.

"Gaya is a picturesque city surrounded by temple-crowned hills… It is a place of great sanctity and a very important place for pilgrimage, the central point of which is the Vishnupad temple that enshrines a footprint of Vishnu. The temple was built in the 18th century by the Maratha princess Ahliyabai.The hills around the city are also places of sanctity. The highest is that of Brahmayoni, which rises precipitately to a height of 450 feet above the plain. Six miles south of Gaya is the great temple of Bodh Gaya, one of the holiest places in the world, and the most sacred of all places to the Buddhists.These (Barabar) hills are 6-8 miles east of Bela railway station, the second railway station on the way to Patna… This is the site of the ancient Silabhadra monaster. On a low ridge of granite in the southern corner of the valley are the famous Barabar caves. The reader of E.M.Forster’s book A Passage to India will recall the incident of which the scene is one of these caves." - Sir John Houlton in Bihar the Heart of India

Now a days it is an ordinary district headquarter of India and bears a polluted, not so clean and dusty look though it still draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims as a pilgrimage and place for a compulsory pindadaan( funeral offerings to the deceased) for Hindus. Vishnupad Temple is the main draw which was constructed by famous Maratha princess Ahalyabayi of Holkar Dynasty of Gwalior in seventeenth century in place of old dilapidated temple.

Get in

Gaya is well connected through air, rail and road. Bodhgaya is the nearest airport, which offers International flight for Buddhist countries like Thailand, Mayanmar, Japan. The second option is Patna, which is 125 km away and well connected by rail and road service. There are lots of train dirctly from Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Get around

You can easily visit Gaya by car. There are many car rental companies available.
Nalanda Travels provides cabs on rent for Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali,Varansai.

See

Vishnupad Temple. build in 18th century....there is a foot print of lord vishu in this temple.In this temple at outside the inner gate there is a place drop of water coming from the wall and believed by the people that if water get on people there wish will become true

Splurge

Get out

Bodhgaya — the main attraction in the area is the Buddha Temple in Bodhgaya, here Buddha acquired the Power of Knowledge. Buses are common from Gaya to Bodh Gaya during peak season. Auto rickshaws cost about Rs 200 and an airconditioned Taxi costs Rs 300-350.